The sensegiving role of advisors in farmer decision-making

In Ireland, and in several other countries around the world, a situation of economic vulnerability exists for many farmers. Alongside this economic vulnerability, the farm management literature acknowledges that most farmers spend little time on financial management. In this context, we argue that farm advisory services have the potential to add value to the farming community by assisting farmers to make informed financial decisions, to combat these economic challenges. In this study, the role of professional advisors in the strategic financial decision-making process of farmers is explored to develop an understanding of how farmers avail of advice from, and interact with, farm advisors. A qualitative research approach of 27 semi-structured interviews and a focus group is adopted to explore the strategic financial decision-making process of farmers. The application of sensemaking theory helps us understand how advisors provide a sensegiving role in the farmer’s decision-making process. The evidence gathered identifies numerous professional advice sources that provide this sensegiving role in the strategic financial decision-making process of farmers but contends that two sources, accountants and agricultural consultants, appear most prominent. This study also reveals that the use of specific advice sources is strongly influenced by the type of strategic decision undertaken and the farm type in operation. The results provide an opportunity for policymakers, and those who provide advisory services to farmers, to reflect on how best to create an environment where farmers and farm advisors can work together, to develop sustainable farm enterprises which can contribute to rural development

Exploring the Role of Human Judgment in Making Discount Decisions in the Lodging Industry

This study assesses the process of making pricing decisions, specifically discounts, in the lodging industry. The study applied a qualitative technique employing structured interviews of hotel managers in the United States. The assessments included the narration of events, stages, and cycles of choices made by hotel managers. The findings of the study enhanced the understanding of how management’s discount choice was constructed. In addition, this study identified the habitual management practices in the lodging industry such as “less-than-35 rule,” “trial and error,” and “follow suit.” To confirm the findings from the interviews, a follow-up study was conducted. The survey was designed to learn what kinds of information managers rank highly when considering price adjustments in their operations. Different rankings on information attributes among departments were investigated; results show that managers from different departments rank some information elements differently. Learning the process of a discount choice provided new insights on managerial resources and capabilities required to set and change prices in the lodging industry

Attenuation of fear‐conditioned analgesia in rats by monoacylglycerol lipase inhibition in the anterior cingulate cortex: Potential role for CB 2

Improved understanding of brain mechanisms regulating endogenous analgesia is important from a fundamental physiological perspective and for identification of novel therapeutic strategies for pain. The endocannabinoid system plays a key role in stress-induced analgesia, including fear-conditioned analgesia (FCA), a potent form of endogenous analgesia. Here we studied the role of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) within the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC; a brain region implicated in the affective component of pain) in FCA in rats. FCA was modelled in male Lister-hooded rats by assessing formalin-evoked nociceptive behaviour in an arena previously paired with footshock. The effects of intra-ACC administration of MJN110 (inhibitor of monoacylglycerol lipase [MGL], the primary enzyme catabolising 2-AG), AM630 (CB2 receptor antagonist), AM251 (CB1 receptor antagonist), or MJN110+AM630 on FCA were assessed. MJN110 attenuated FCA when microinjected into the ACC, an effect associated with increased levels of 2-AG in the ACC. This effect of MJN110 on FCA was unaltered by co-administration of AM251 but was blocked by AM630, which alone reduced nociceptive behaviour in non-fear-conditioned rats. RT-qPCR confirmed that mRNA encoding CB1 and CB2 receptors was detectable in the ACC of formalin-injected rats, and unchanged in those expressing FCA. These results suggest that a MGL substrate in the ACC, likely 2-AG, modulates FCA, and that within the ACC, 2-AG-CB2 receptor signalling may suppress this form of endogenous analgesia. These results may facilitate increased understanding and improved treatment of, pain- and fear-related disorders and their comorbidity.This work was funded by grants from the Science Foundation Ireland (10/IN.1/B2976) and the Irish Research Council.peer-reviewed2021-01-2

A systematic review and meta-analysis of cannabis-based medicines, cannabinoids and endocannabinoid system modulators tested for antinociceptive effects in animal models of injury-related or pathological persistent pain

We report a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies which assessed the antinociceptive efficacy of cannabinoids, cannabis-based medicines, and endocannabinoid system modulators on pain-associated behavioural outcomes in animal models of pathological or injury-related persistent pain. In April 2019, we systematically searched 3 online databases and used crowd science and machine learning to identify studies for inclusion. We calculated a standardised mean difference (SMD) effect size for each comparison and performed a random effects meta-analysis. We assessed the impact of study design characteristics and reporting of mitigations to reduce the risk of bias. We meta-analysed 374 studies in which 171 interventions were assessed for antinociceptive efficacy in rodent models of pathological or injury-related pain. Most experiments were conducted in male animals (86 %). Antinociceptive efficacy was most frequently measured by attenuation of hypersensitivity to evoked limb withdrawal. Selective CB1, CB2, non-selective cannabinoid receptor agonists (including delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol; THC), and PPAR-alpha agonists (predominantly palmitoylethanolamide; PEA) significantly attenuated pain-associated behaviours in a broad range of inflammatory and neuropathic pain models. Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors, monoacylglycerol lipase (MGL) inhibitors and cannabidiol (CBD) significantly attenuated pain-associated behaviours in neuropathic pain models but yielded mixed results in inflammatory pain models. The reporting of criteria to reduce the risk of bias was low, therefore the studies have an unclear risk of bias. The value of future studies could be enhanced by improving the reporting of methodological criteria, the clinical relevance of the models and behavioural assessments. Notwithstanding, the evidence supports the hypothesis of cannabinoid-induced analgesia

Scoring strategic performance: a pragmatic constructivist approach to strategic performance measurement

This paper analyses the characteristics of good strategic performance that contribute to the overall performance of a successful company. We apply a framework of pragmatic constructivism in order to analyse and measure strategic performance. We use the model for performance measurement based on pragmatic constructivism for the more specific topics of measuring, assessing and analysing strategic performance as opposed to operational performance. This paper analyses the characteristics of strategic performance that successfully enhance the overall performance of the company. The purpose is to outline a framework for strategic performance measurement that can be used to guide and measure strategic leadership. The framework focuses on the concepts of coherence and coherence tracing as the basic concepts for strategic performance and thus the task for strategic performance measurement.</p